If you’re looking for a tense PvE survival game where nature is just as deadly as the wildlife, Icarus drops you onto a hostile planet built to punish mistakes. You play as a prospector chasing riches, but the real challenge is staying alive long enough to benefit from the trip.
Set on the planet Icarus, the game throws you into varied biomes, including dense forests and harsh deserts. Each region comes with its own threats, and you’re rarely safe for long. Aggressive creatures can attack without warning, and dangerous weather events can turn a normal run into a disaster. Even fire is a serious threat, forcing you to think ahead about where you travel, where you build, and how you protect what you’ve made.
Survival in Icarus revolves around smart resource gathering and planning. You’ll scout for materials, build shelter, and use what you find in the environment to craft what you need. Nearly everything can be put to work—trees, rocks, and the landscape around you become tools for progression. Food is part of the equation too, with wildlife hunting playing a key role in keeping your character alive.
To keep your character growing stronger over time, the game includes three tech trees and more than 100 talents to choose from. That depth can be a major draw for players who enjoy detailed builds and long-term progression, especially when paired with the game’s mission structure. You can complete specific missions with clear goals, or switch things up with an Open World mode that focuses more on exploration and living off the land in a broader, less structured experience. Either way, efficiency matters—missions reward players who plan well, move fast, and don’t waste resources.
Right now, Icarus is available on Steam for $3.49 until January 5, 2026, and this is listed as its lowest price to date. For fans of PvE survival games, that makes it an easy entry point—especially if you’ve been curious but didn’t want to pay full price.
That said, it’s worth going in with realistic expectations. The game holds a 73% user rating on Steam, and some players say it can feel incomplete without additional DLC. Others mention that the gameplay has a steep learning curve and can be complex, and there are also reports of bugs that may impact the experience depending on your tolerance for technical issues.
If you enjoy challenging survival mechanics, deep progression systems, and the pressure of hostile environments, Icarus offers a lot of game for the money—especially at this discount—so long as you’re prepared for its complexity and some rough edges.
